POWDERMET2019: State of North American PM industry 2019
Technology Trends
“Technology never sleeps in the PM industry,” stated Sweet, “it’s always reinventing itself with new materials, processes and products that spell innovation for the future. Metal powder makers, equipment builders, and PM process companies are all investing in new technology to expand the total market.”
Enhanced lubrication systems have been developed to extend the tool life and improve the surface finish of PM parts. There is also work underway on binder-treated powder blends and low-segregation additives, Sweet added. New aluminium alloys are available to meet demands for traditional PM, Additive Manufacturing and Metal Injection Moulding.
Developments in field-assisted sintering show a trend to flash or ultra-rapid processing emphasising net-shaping capabilities. The flash feature of electric-current and electromagnetic field-assisted sintering is achieved in flash sintering, flash spark-plasma sintering, flash microwave sintering, and high-voltage electric discharge compaction.
Conclusion
In his closing remarks, Sweet stated, “The PM industry is still on the move and should never be counted out or labelled a mature industry and technology. Many times, throughout the industry’s long history, so-called pundits have predicted a declining curve and written off PM’s future. And many times, they have been proven wrong.”
“PM will continue to solve problems and innovate as long as we invest in people and new ideas,” he concluded.
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